Nathmal Ki Haveli faces the street with a richly carved golden façade guarded by two sandstone elephants. At first glance the building looks perfectly symmetrical, but if you look closely the two halves are slightly different – balconies, windows and details don’t match exactly. Carvings show not only traditional floral and animal motifs but also things like trains and bicycles, hinting at changing times. Inside, the rooms have painted ceilings and miniature artwork, and parts of the haveli are still used as a residence, so it feels less like a museum and more like a lived-in slice of history.
About this place
History & highlights
The mansion was commissioned in the late 19th century by ruler Maharawal Beri Sal as the residence of his prime minister Diwan Mohata Nathmal, after whom it is named. Designing and building were entrusted to two famous architect brothers, Hathi and Lulu, reportedly from a Muslim artisan family. They decided that each would construct one half of the façade, based on a common plan – but working separately meant that when the building was completed, the halves were harmonious yet not identical. This “twin but not twin” front, plus the inclusion of modern images like trains, reflects Jaisalmer’s contact with the outside world and the late-colonial period when traditional craft was meeting new influences. Today the haveli’s mixed ownership and residential use have kept it from becoming a formal museum, but it remains a key stop on any heritage walk.
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